Beacon of Light: United Community Builders

United Community Builders brings a new future to Columbia’s Third Ward.

There is a well-known saying that goes, “If you give a person a fish, they eat for a day. If you teach a person to fish, they eat for a lifetime.” But what happens if you teach a person to own the pond? To United Community Builders Executive Director Damian Dean, owning the pond can be the most significant difference. Owning the pond means generations are eating fish. 

Dean has lived in Columbia since 1998 and has worked with United Community Builders (UCB) since its beginnings. UCB, a faith-based not-for-profit in Columbia, sprouted from its parent organization, United Community Cathedral, with the mission to expand community outreach beyond the four walls of the church. 

UCB’s day-to-day can be seen in its mission statement, “… working to inspire and educate people to achieve in life.” Serving all community members, from pre-kindergarten students to 99-year-old neighbors, UCB has been able to help students not only stay but excel in school and uplift underemployed workforces through its varied programs. Dean said that the people UCB serves are often one skill set or helping hand away from sustainable living. 

“Some of the students we served did not know that they were skilled until we kept pushing on them, loving them, and telling them that ‘You can do this,’” said Dean. 

UCB’s Assistant Director of Child Development, Roshelle Watson, is a testament to Dean’s concept. Shortly after moving to Columbia, Watson was unsteady about where her life was heading. Without a support system, she was stuck and needed a hand.  

“The program was the best decision that I made because years later, I can sit here and say I am so proud of my accomplishments,” Watson said. “I feel like if I didn’t take this class, then I would not be in the position that I am now.” 

During the six-week Transformation program, Watson was paired with an accountability partner who allowed her space to be her authentic self while she navigated her return to the workplace and figured out who she was again. After completing the course, Watson volunteered to help watch the children of other program participants, which eventually led to her current role. To Watson, the space to be herself and be seen without judgment was the most valuable aspect of the program. 

“You know, many of us come from different walks of life. Some of us have it better than others. Some of us have struggled,” Watson added. “For her just to embrace me and open up made me feel at ease. I appreciated that the most because it’s very seldom that you’ll meet someone who will just be so open to sit and listen to your story.” 

Being a Beacon of Light 

Soon, Northeast Columbia’s Whitegate neighborhood will be home to UCB’s latest project — the Beacon of Light Community Center, a 22,500-square-foot crossover of recreation, education, and community space. 

“When I came to Columbia, the Whitegate area was the place for college students. It was a place for young families,” Dean noted. “And over time, it went the opposite direction.” 

Dean has described Whitegate as a “resource desert” for families. The neighborhood lacks many social services within walking distance and is known for high crime and poverty rates and the low academic achievement of its kindergarten through twelfth-grade students. Additionally, a disproportionate amount of neighborhood housing is Section 8. Dean sees the project as an opportunity to provide hope to the community. 

The community center broke ground in September 2023. As of early August 2024, UCB had successfully raised $7.9 million, exceeding its initial goal. The fundraising has expanded phase one of construction to include only the first floor’s gymnasium, the second floor’s after-school program, and administrative wing. Dean said the initial expansion creates enough space for UCB to grow sustainably for years. 

Programs moving into the facility include the United Community School House, a before- and after-school care and daycare program; Transformation, a job skills-building program; Club Kid Connect, a summer program; Homework Hour; the Community Meal; and a food pantry. In the new space, UCB will service up to sixty-nine kids in the child development pre-K department alone. Dean anticipates increasing staffing from five full-time employees to about twenty over the next five years. 

“What I see is that we’re not starting a project, but we’re starting a movement,” Dean explained. “And the movement is to restore and revitalize the Whitegate area and the Third Ward. But at the same time, be a beacon of light for the whole community. And we’re not saying it because it sounds good. That’s how we operate.” 

To Watson, UCB has become her home and family, and the Beacon of Light Community Center is an immense source of pride.  

“I’m really excited to see what’s out there and how we will be able to provide and give back to the community,” she said. 

Some of UCB’s strengths contributing to its steady growth are its holistic approach to community support and collaboration with community partners. UCB is not interested in duplication or reinventing the wheel if another organization is already doing a program well. Some of UCB’s partners include Love Columbia and In2Action. In its future facility, UCB hopes to collaborate with Columbia Public Schools. 

Dean added, “If we cannot help the whole person, then we need to figure out how to help the whole person.” 

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United Community Builders

Founded: 2009

Vision: United Community Builders envisions a united community, working together to equip all low-income, at-risk, and minority children and families to rise above poverty and become successful and self-sufficient in life.

Mission: United Community inspires and educates people to achieve in life. 

Staff:

Damian Dean, Executive Director

Tim Rich, Director of Development

Alexander Plummer, Director of Marketing

Tawana Minor, Director of Child Development

Roshelle Watson, Assistant Director of Child Development

Sandy Slone, Director of Education

Lula Nix, Early Childhood Assistant Teacher

Linda Williams, Classroom Assistant

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United Community Builders
617 N Providence Rd 
573-449-0340
[email protected]
ucbuilders.org